Storage and dispensing apparatus



May 28, 1940. wHrrE Re. 21,470

STORAGE AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFIED GAS Original Filed Sepi.26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sha om album/ y 1940- .1. WHITE 21,470

STQR AGE AND DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFIED GAS Original Filed Sept.26, 1935 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Reissued May 1940 PATENT OFFICE STORAGE ANDDISPENSING APPARATUS FOB maumup GAS Loyd J. White, San Antonio, 'lex.,asslgnor to Southern Steel Company, a corporation of Texas Original No.2,042,439, dated May 26, 1936, Serial No. 42,337, September 26, 1935.

Reissue No.

20,824, dated January 11. 1938, Serial No. 170,133, October 20, 1887.This application for reissue February 23, 1940, Serial No. 320,516

16 Claims.

This invention relates to storage and dispensing apparatus for highlyvolatile liquefied gases and, among other objects, aims to provide animproved compact and relatively simple installation adapted to beassembled at the factory .and shipped as a complete unit ready to beinstalled to provide an automatic system for household and other uses.Another object is to provide a simple, safe and automatic undergroundsystem wherein all of the necessary filling, controlling and dispensingappliances are associated with a storage tank and arranged in aprotecting casing to prevent flooding due to rains and exposure toextreme cold in winter.

5 Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in thespecificatiomwhen considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,

wherein:

Fig. i is a vertical longitudinal sectional view go of an installationembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line I-! of Fig. l; and v Fig. 3is a sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the installation there shown forillustrative purposes.

is designed for use in dispensing liquefied petroleum gases, such asnormal butane, isobutane, propane or a mixture of butane and propanegases and the apparatus is adapted to be buried in the ground. In thisinstance, the liquefied gas is stored in a horizontally arrangedcylindrical tank I. of any suitable capacity. This tank is adapted to bepartially filled with liquefied gas under pressure through a stand pipeII and a branch l2 having an ordinary inlet valve 13. As the liquefiedgas is being charged into the tank, vaporized gas in the tank is allowedto escape into the air or into the filling tank through a w pipe ithaving an outlet valve ii, to make room for the new supply of liquefiedgas. The lower end of pipe ll determines the level to which theliquefied gas can be raised. Some clearance or vapor space is requiredfor safe operation.

5 The stand pipe ll conveniently carries a level gage It at its upperend connected to an ordinary float ll within the tank, although, it isto be understood that any other convenient type of level indicatingapparatus may be employed.

so The vapor under pressure is delivered through a conduit ll, having ahand valve l9; thence, through an ordinary pressure reducing regulatorII to an outlet pipe 21 and a service main 2!.

In this instance, water is conducted through the as liquefied gas in thetank to insure that it is always heated to the vaporization temperature,notwithstanding the outside temperature or temperature of thesurrounding earth.

Herein, the domestic water supply is connected by a pipe 23 to acylindrical conduit 24 extenda ing vertically into the tank to itsbottom from the outside. This conduit is shown as being closed at bothends. The water enters near the top and is charged from the bottomthrough a drain pipe 25 in heat exchanging relation with to theliquefied gas and conveniently passes through one end of the tank, asshown. Thus, circulation of the water supplies supplemental heat tovaporize the liquid as fast as it is used and maintains a substantiallyuniform pressure 15 in the tank.

The circulating water is also used in this instance to re-vaporize anycondensed gas in the service conduit. For this purpose, the outlet pipe2| extends into the cylindrical conduit 24 to a 20 point near the bottomthereof, the lower end being closed and preferably supported by a crossbar or bracket 26.

The service pipe 22 extends through the wall of the conduit 24 near itsupper end adjacent to 85 the tank and is connected to the pipe 2|therein, thus providing a vertical trap to catch any condensed gasvapor. It will be understood that the pipe 22 is also buried undergroundbelow the frost line and drains toward the trap. -This con- 80 densateis quickly revaporized by the heat derived from the circulating water inthe cylindrical conduit. This is a very important feature, especially inplants used in extremely cold climates because the gas vapor condensesat a 35 temperature between about 48 F. and 32 F. or less, depending onthe mixture employed. Hence, the water which is always above thefreezing point will supply sufiicient heat to re-vapor'ize the liquefiedgas. 40

As is usual in systems of this type, an ordinary relief valve 21 isconnected to the low pressure side of the pressure regulator III toprotect the appliances from any excessive pressure. This relief valvehas an outlet conduit 20 and a vent pipe 29. Also, a vent pipe 30 isshown as being connected to the pressure regulator. All of'these pipesare shown as extending above the ground level so that no water cansubmerge them and interfere with their functions.

To protect the mechanism outside the tank during shipment and afteritsinstallation in-the ground,there is shown a sheet metal casing 3i whichcan be of any suitable shape but is preferably frusto-pyramidal, havingfour sides conto Also, the complete units may be displayed in salesrooms and present an attractiveappear- Obviously, the present inventionis not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown anddescribed. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features ofthe invention be used coniointly, since they may be employedadvantageously in various combinations and sub- What is claimed is:

1. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing plant of the classdescribed, a storage tank; dispensing means connected to the'tank fordelivering gas at a low pressure therefrom; a service pipe leading fromsaid dispensing means having Y a portion projecting into said tank; awater conduit around said pipe within the tank providing a heatexchanger for revaporising condensed gas therein; and water pipesconnected to said conduit for circuhting water in hut exchangingrelation to liquefied gas in the tank.

2. A storage and dispensing system for liquefied a valved fillingconduit for the storage tank; a valved gas dispensing conduit connectedthe tank; an automatic pressure regulator to the dispensing conduit; aprotecting above the tank and providing a housing filling conduit, saidvalve and said presregulator'; a service pipe connected to the rqulatorand extending outwardly from thecasing also buried below the frost line;asafety vent pipe connected to said pressure regulator and projectinupwardly into said protecting casing to a point near the top: and avented removable cover for said casing above the ground so that thepartsinsaidcasingareaccessibleforremovalor repairs 3.1n aliquefiedgasstorage anddispensing plantofthecharacterdescribed,astoragetank forholding the liquefied gas under presure adaptedtobeburiedintheground:fillingand dispensing devices. including a pressure regulatorandvalvedconduitssecuredtothetankandprojecting upwardly therefrom; aprotecting casing for said devices arranged entirely above and securedto the tank and partially buried in the ground with the tank; a vent forsaid regulator extending to a point beneath the top of the casing; and aremovable cover for said casing to permit access to said devices.

4. A liquefied gas storage and dispensing plant as set forth in claim 3wherein said filling and dispensing devices and said protecting casingare assembled on the tank at the factory or as-' sembling plant so thatthe casing will protect the devices during shipment. v

5. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, a storage tank for holding liquefied gas under pressureinstalled underground below the frost line in heat exchanging relationwith the surrounding earth'to absorb heat for vaporizing the liquefiedgas therein;

filling and dispensing devices, including .a pressure regulator andvalved conduits connected to and arranged above the tank; a protectingcasing of weather-proof sheet material for said devices arrangedentirely above and supported by the tank and accessible from above theground; a cover on said casing permitting gas todischarge therefrom; avent for the regulator discharging into the casing and, thence. to theatmosphere; and a service pipe connected to the regulator extendingoutwardly underground through the lower portion of the casing, alsobelow the frost 6. A liquefied gas storage and dispensing system as setforth in claim 5 wherein the tank is cylindrical and buried horizontallyin the ground and said devices and easing are factory assembled on theside of the tank and the regulator is removably connected to adispensing conduit and service pipe, the casing being of sufilcient sizeas to permit removal of the regulator through the top.

7. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, a cylindrical storage tank for holding liquefied gas under.pressure installed horizontally underground below the frost line in heatexchanging relation with the surrounding earth to absorb heat forvaporizing the liquefied gas therein; filling and dispensing devices,including a pressure regulator and valved conduits connected to andarranged above the tank also below the ground level; a protecting casingof weather-proof material about said devices accessible from above theground and rigid- 1y mounted .with respect to the tank; a cover for saidcasing shielding said devices and affording access thereto; and a gasservice pipe leading downwardly from said regulator within the casingand outwardly therefrom closely adjacent to th tank.

8. A liquefied gas storage and dispensing system as set forth in claim 7whereina cut-oi! valve is provided in the gas delivery conduit and theregulator is removably connected to said conduit and service pipe, thecasing being of sufilcient size to permit the manipulation of a wrenchand the removal of the regulator through the top.

9. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, a cylindrical storage tank for holding liquefied gas underpressure installed horizontally underground below the frost line in heatexchanging relation with the surrounding earth to absorb heat forvaporizing the liquefied gas therein; filling and dispensing devices,including a pressure regulator and valved conduits connected to andarranged above the tank also below the ground level; a metal protectingcasing above the top side of and rigidly secured with respect to thetank about said devices and accessible from above the ground; aremovable cover for the casing permitting access to said devices; and asafety relief valve for said regulator connected to discharge vented gasinto the casing and, thence, to the atmosphere.

10. A gas storage and dispensing system as set forth in claim 9 whereinheat insulating material is placed in said casing to maintain thetemperature within the casingabout the same as that in the tankandthereby prevents the gas from being condensed in the dispensingconduit and-regulator during cold weather.

11. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, a storage tank for holding liquefied gas under pressureadapted to be installed horizontally: underground in heat exchangingrelation with the surrounding earth to absorb heat for vaporizing theliquefied gas therein; valved filling and vapor-return conduitsconnected to the tank; a gas dispensing conduit connected to andarranged above the tank; control devices, including a pressure regulatorin the conduit and a safety relief valve also below the ground level; anunderground service pipe leading from said regulator; a metal protectingcasing assembled on the tank about said control devices and said fillingand vapor return conduits preventing breakage of said devices andsconduits during shipment and affording access to them from the groundlevel and also providing event to the atmosphere for said safety reliefvalve;

and a cover for said casing shielding said devices and conduits.

12. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the .classdescribed, a cylindrical storage tank for holding liquefied gas underpressure and installed underground below the frost line in 'heatexchanging relation with the surrounding earth to absorb heat forvaporizing the liquefied gas therein; arigid, weather-proof casing aboveand securely mounted with respect to tank extending to the ground level;a gas dispensing conduit connected to the tank and having a manuallyoperable cut-oil valve in the casing; a pressure regulator and a safetyrelief valve connected to said conduit and also arranged in the casing;valved filling and vapor return conduits extending upwardly in thecasing; and a cover for the casing to permit easy access to all of saiddevices and providing a vent for any gas discharged into the casing bysaid safety relief valve.

13. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, an underground pressure storage tank; a gas dispensingconduit connected to the tank and having a pressure regulator;heatexchanging means associated with the tank to vaporize the liquefiedgas therein and maintain a continuous supplyof gas under pressure; meansto supply water to said heat exchanging means; and a gas service pipehaving a portion extending into the tank and also heated by said heatexchanging means to revaporize condensate which collects in the servicepipe.

14. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, an underground storage tank for holding liquefied gas underpressure arranged in heat exchanging relation with the surrounding earthbelow the frost line to absorb heat for vaporizing the liquefied gastherein; a dispensing pipe connected to and arranged above the tank; a.pressure regulator in the dispensing pipe; a service pipe also above thetank leading downwardly from the low pressure side of the regulator andextending laterally underground from a point closely adjacent to thetank; a protecting casing for saidregulator and dispensing pipe arrangedentirely above the tank and affording access to the regulator from abovethe ground; and a safety relief valve connected to prevent an excesspressure from being built up in the service pipe and having a vent pipedischarging into the casing near its top and thence to the atmosphere.

15. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, a storage tank branch and be revaporized.

16. In a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the classdescribed, an underground storage tank; a gas service pipe connected todeliver gas from the tank and having its lowest point buried in theground; and a heat exchanger connected to and depending from the lowestportion of the service pipe into which condensed gas drains, whereby thecondensate is revaporized and returned to the service pipe.

. 1mm J. warm.

